GPs agree new contracts

The Government and GPs have agreed a new contract. Among the changes are that over-75s will be assigned an accountable GP to ensure they receive co-ordinated care. The Health Secretary has also revealed proposals for GPs' salaries to be made public

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New contracts agreed by GPs and the Government will move away from a performance related pay structure and instead split funding between practice and hospital, to help doctors prevent elderly patients from unnecessary hospital trips.

According to the contracts:

The quality and outcomes framework (QOF) - which financially rewards GPs for hitting targets in areas such as diabetes care - will be cut.

Approximately £290 million of funding (238 QOF points) will be diverted to the core GP funding by stripping QOF points from the framework.

A further 100 QOF points will be removed to help pay for a new enhanced service worth £162m a year for patients with complex health needs.

Emergency care departments will have easier telephone access to GPs to decide whether or not a patient needs to be admitted.

Patients will be able to book appointments online and access their summary medical record.

In December 2014 patients will be asked how likely they are to recommend a GP practice.

Every person aged 75 and over will be assigned a GP in a bid to make sure their care is co-ordinated, according to new contracts with the Government doctors have agreed to.

GPs have agreed to monitor out-of-hours services and be assigned to elderly patients. Credit: PA

There are also changes to out-of-hours care - GPs will take on more responsibility and are expected to monitor the quality of their local service.

Both GPs and the Government hope the new deal will introduce an "enhanced service" for patients with complex health needs so they are not unnecessarily admitted to hospital or A&E.

The British Medical Association (BMA), which negotiated for doctors, said the changes would cut unnecessary targets, reduce bureaucratic box-ticking and give doctors more time to focus on the needs of their patients.

Dr Chaand Nagpaul, chair of the BMA's GP committee, said: "We have negotiated changes that will encourage GPs to provide more personalised care for vulnerable patients at risk of hospital admission, with improved access and other measures to better co-ordinate their care."